Monthly Archives: May 2020

On the 22 May 2020 Ukraine submitted its written memorial to the Arbitral Tribunal (UNCLOS, Annex VII) in respect of the Dispute Concerning the Detention of Ukrainian Naval Vessels and Servicemen (Ukraine v. the Russian Federation), PCA Case No. 2019-28. According to Procedural Order No. 1 (22 November 2019), the Russian Federation shall submit its written memorial within 6 months (para. 4), or preliminary objections within 3 months (para 5; Rules of Procedure (22 November 2019), art. 11). Any preliminary objections that ‘possess an exclusively preliminary character’ are to be examined in a preliminary phase prior to the merits of the case.

On the 26 May 2020 the Russian MFA commented on Ukraine’s submission. The Russian MFA suggests that Ukraine’s written memorial has “reduced the list of its [Ukraine’s] initial claims”. There is also a suggestion that Russia will exercise its right to submit preliminary objections:

Next, Russia will have to file its jurisdictional objections regarding this case by August 22, 2020 under the relevant rules of procedure.

The American Society of International law shall host its first-ever Virtual Annual Meeting, themed, The Promise of International Law, 25-26 June 2020. Of particular note to law of the sea scholars is the Energy, Environment, Sea, & Space track, as well as the Annual Manley O. Hudson Medal Luncheon, with this year’s recipient being Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Wolfrum.

The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines issued a statement (30 April 2020) contesting the so-called districts of “Nansha” and “Xisha” under the supposed administrative jurisdiction of its self-declared “Sansha City”announced on 18 April 2020 by the People’s Republic of China. According to this announcement by China, “the Xisha District of Sansha City has jurisdiction over the islands and reefs of the Xisha Islands and its sea areas, and is in charge of the islands and reefs of the Zhongsha Islands and its sea areas”. The statement from the Philippines is available here.

The United States of America also issued a statement (22 April 2020) describing China’s announcement as a “new unilateral announcement of administrative districts over disputed islands and maritime areas in the South China Sea”.

Closing date for applications is 17 June 2020 with the Université d’Angers (France) for a PhD position onthe topic of prevention and resolution of conflicts of use in the law of the sea (La prévention et la résolution des conflits d’usage en droit de la mer). The position is based at the Centre Jean Bodin and the researcher is expected to join the ZOMAD (observatoire des zones maritimes disputées) research group.

The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) is hosting a webinar entitled Plastic as a Key to Addressing Ocean Pollution. The event is set to happen 27 May 2020 at 09:00 AM (BST). This event is part of the series of webinars featuring new scientific ‘Blue Papers’.